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| Shaun and friends |
Shaun
the Shepherd
A Review of Shaun the Sheep: The Movie by Nick
Olszyk
MPAA Rating, PG
USCCB Rating, A-II
Reel Rating, Four
Reels
My
college chaplain Fr. Rafael Luevano was fond of telling his students that when
Jesus refers to mankind as sheep, “it is not a compliment.” Sheep are pretty
dumb: they get caught in brambles, are too slow to evade predators, and usually
go wherever the sheep in front of them is going. The one exception may be Shaun,
a lovable little guy with a knack for mischief. However, when he hatches a plan
for a holiday with his pals, their master goes missing, leading to a series of
misadventures. Unlike more edgy animation typical of Dreamworks, this little
gem is quite gentle and charming, perfect for preschoolers with a little bit of
harmless adult humor for their parents.
Shaun
(Justin Fletcher) was first introduced in the Academy Award winning series Wallace and Gromit and later starred in
his own television series, but this is his first time getting the big screen
treatment. He lives on a quaint little plot of land with some other animals
under the watchful eye of the Farmer (John Sparkes), who runs a strict regimen
with the help of his dog Bitzer (also John Sparkes). Shaun wants a little
excitement for a change, so he hatches a plan to put the Farmer to sleep
temporarily in a trailer so they can watch TV, eat pizza, and have a few
cocktails. Their day off goes terribly awry when the Farmer’s trailer rolls
away and gets lost in the Big City next door. Shaun and his gang of misfit ungulates
must navigate this strange new world while evading the ever watchful eyes of Trumper,
head of the local animal containment unit.
Shaun’s biggest shtick is silence; there
is no dialogue whatsoever. Like the great comedians before “talkies,” the film
depends entirely on physical humor. This leads to some enormously funny
sequences. The Farmer is an Arthur Dent-type: ordinary looks, ordinary
demeanor, and perfectly content with an ordinary life. After waking up in the
Big City with memory loss, he wanders into a salon and begins to cut everyone’s
hair based on muscle memory. This sheepish hair style becomes a craze, turning him
into an instant celebrity and the object of every meme. My favorite bit is when
Shaun and Bitzer are sent to the pound after getting captured by Trumper.
Inside, there’s a dog with the words “bark” and “bite” written on his knuckles,
a cat in a cone that imitates Hannibal Lecter, and a harmonica playing goldfish
behind bars though it’s already in a bowl. To top it off, there’s even a sheep
that uses coconuts to create clopping noises.
In
the New Testament, Jesus is called “the good shepherd” on several occasions. The
Farmer’s sheep think their life is dull and repressive, but once he’s gone everything
on the farm goes downhill fast. In an interesting role reversal, it is sheep
that then go looking for their master. In the real world, it is Christ who
comes to us, but we too need to participate by accepting his help, for “all who
seek find.” In the process of searching, Shaun realizes that he needs the
Farmer beyond just the evolutionary instinct for food and shelter; there is a
close affection between them. Understanding this impulse, Shaun also helps a
street dog who needs a home.
Perhaps the
greatest compliment one can give a film is that it captures a little bit of
Heaven, and Shaun’s family has it. The song “Feels Like Summer” is repeated
frequently throughout the film, beautifully echoing this sentiment:
Once you were here, the worries disappeared,
it all became clear, nothing left to fear,
you have got my back, keepin' me on track,
like you always do
Time of our lives, such a sweet surprise,
together we survive, ever starry-eyed beyond any price,
pure as paradise, comin' into view
When the Farmer first meets Shaun in the Big City, he
doesn’t recognize him; however, as soon as the song is heard, his memory comes
back. The song is also used to calm down a lamb when it is homesick. Paradise
isn’t a place but here with one’s friends on Earth and with one’s friends in Heaven.
As much as
I enjoyed this picture, I really can’t recommend seeing it in the theaters.
It’s too intimate and would be much better as part of a home collection, where
little ones could curl up on the couch with their parents – and maybe some Shaun the Sheep merchandise. It’s fun,
it’s silly, and only wool is shed, never tears except for joy in finding a home
such as this.
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